Ski Hill Resources for Economic Development Act

Local Economic and Infrastructure Support: The Secretary is required to expend 80 percent of the rental charges collected at a specific unit back at that same unit (Section 2(a)(4)(A)(i)). This provides direct funding for local areas through:

• Administrative and Safety Activities: Such as processing applications for new ski areas or improvements, staff training, visitor information, and signage (Section 2(a)(5)(A)).
• Wildfire Risk Management: Funds can be used for planning or coordinating responses to wildfires near recreation sites, or reducing wildfire risks near those sites (Section 2(a)(5)(A)(v-vi)).
• Facility and Safety Maintenance: Funds can be used for repairing or maintaining Forest Service-owned facilities, roads, or trails to improve visitor enjoyment, access, or safety (Section 2(a)(5)(B)(i)).
• Public Safety and Services: This includes law enforcement related to public use, avalanche information and education, and search and rescue activities (Section 2(a)(5)(B)(iii-vii)).

Supplemental Funding: The retained funds are intended to supplement, rather than replace, the existing appropriated funding for the operation and maintenance of covered units (Section 2(a)(7)(B)).

Fund Limitations: The bill explicitly prohibits the use of these funds for wildfire suppression or for acquiring new land for the National Forest System (Section 2(a)(6)).

Reduced Local Distribution: The Secretary has the authority to reduce the local distribution percentage to as low as 60 percent if they determine the amount exceeds the "reasonable needs" of the covered unit (Section 2(a)(4)(A)(iii)).